Director of Special Education

Position Type:
Administration/Director

Date Posted:
5/1/2026

Location:
Administration - Special Education
ROCKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #205
Job Description

Job Title: Director of Special Education

Job Code: 9310
Department: Special Education
Supervisor: Executive Director of Special Education
Date: 3/14/2023
FLSA Status: Exempt
Grade: 03

Compensation Range: $ 91,528 - 128,140

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: Assists the Executive Director of Special Education in managing the operation of special education services and functions as an integral part of the Education Team.


SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Special Education Administrators and Special Education Staff


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. In addition to the requirements listed below, regular attendance is an essential function of this position.

1. Ensures that all actions are in concert with the Board policies as well as the mission statement, beliefs, objectives, and parameters found in the Board's strategic plan.
2. Participates in job training and professional growth opportunities in order to enhance ability to perform the essential functions of the job.
3. Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment.
4. Works collaboratively with the Executive Director of Special Education to provide support to all stakeholders with regards to special education procedures, laws and best practice in order to facilitate compliance with local policy, state and federal regulations related to special education.
5. Coordinates and directs the identification, placement, IEP development, and procedural safeguards of all students with disabilities who are eligible to receive special education assistance.
6. Collaborates with the Executive Director of Special Education to implement a curriculum for students with special needs that is aligned with District goals and state standards.
7. Assists in the oversight and/or support special education programs and related services.
8. Hires, supervises, and evaluates District-level special education staff.
9. Directs personnel, for the purpose of delivering services which conform to established guidelines.
10. Provides consultation to staff in the district and individual building levels pertaining to procedures, services, and programming.
11. Implements conflict resolution and team building skills in a variety of situations with staff, families, and community agencies.
12. Assists in the coordination and preparation of due process and mediation related issues in collaboration with the Executive Director of Special Education.
13. Coordinates and provide consultation on staff evaluations to the building administrators.
14. Assists the Executive Director of Special Education in the preparation of the department's budget related to areas of responsibility.
15. Assists in the coordination of special education transportation.
16. In conjunction with the Executive Director of Special Education, monitors and corrects areas of district non-compliance with state and federal regulations in the areas of assigned responsibility.
17. Maintains effective communication with parents, teachers, principals, and community service agencies to determine areas in need of attention in the assigned areas of responsibility.
18. Maintains an active communications flow with the Human Resources Department to recruit, interview, and retain special education staff.
19. Develops proposals, programming, budgets, and grants for the purpose of meeting the District's Strategic Plan and goals. Provides updates to the Board of Education as requested.
20. Allocates and assigns equitable FTE distribution for special education programs in all district schools.
21. Directs the Medicaid Administrative Claiming process and direct billing of Medicaid-eligible special education services provided by the district, for the purpose of gaining fiscal resources.

QUALIFICATIONS: Master's Degree and certification in accordance with the School Code of the State of Illinois for Special Education Administration.


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Ability to demonstrate qualities aligned to our core values of Character, Communication, Collaboration and Continuous Improvement.
2. Demonstrated success in collaborating effectively with others.
3. Ability to communicate, interact, and work effectively and cooperatively with people from diverse backgrounds.
4. Knowledge of Illinois and federal education laws/regulations and district policies.
5. Experience with facilitating large and small groups and working with adult learners.
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Excellent organizational skills.

A comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• Voluntary life insurance
• Paid Sick and Personal time
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation
• Membership in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) or Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Optional 403(b) plan
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

WORK CALENDAR: 12Months


WORKING CONDITIONS: Moderate in-district travel as well as intermittent in-state and out-of-state travel. Intermittent prolonged and irregular hours of work.


OTHER: This job description describes duties and responsibilities which are representative of the nature and level of work assigned to the position. The identified duties and responsibilities are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.


The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the school district and employee and is subject to change by the school district as the needs of the school district and requirements of the job change.


Physical Aspects of the Position

1.

Climbing - Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.

2.

Balancing - Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.

3.

X

Stooping - Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.

4.

Kneeling Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

5.

X

Crouching - Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

6.

Crawling - Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

7.

Reaching - Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

8.

X

Standing - Particularly for sustained periods of time.

9.

X

Walking - Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances.

10.

Pushing - using upper extremities to press against something with steady force order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

11.

Pulling - Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

12.

Lifting - Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and required the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

13.

X

Finger use - Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with the fingers rather than the whole hand or arm as in handling.

14.

Grasping - Applying pressure to an object with the fingers or palm.

15.

X

Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word. Those activities in which you must convey detailed or spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly or quickly.

16.

X

Hearing Perceiving the nature of sounds. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sounds such as when making fine adjustments on machinery.

17.

Repetitive Motions - Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

The Physical Requirements of the Position

1.

X

Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary Work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

2.

Light Work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of force greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rate for Light Work.

3.

Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

4.

Heavy Work - Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

5.

Very Heavy Work - Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision

1.

X

Machine Operations - inspection, close assembly, clerical, administration. This is a minimum standard for use with those whose work deals largely with preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal, extensive reading, or visual inspection.

2.

Mechanics - Skilled tradespeople - This is a minimum standard for use with those whose work deals with machines such as power tools, lathes, and drills.

3.

Mobile Equipment - This is a minimum standard for use with those who operate cars, trucks, forklifts, cranes, and high equipment.

4.

Other This is a minimum standard based on the criteria of accuracy and neatness of work for janitors, sweepers, etc.

The Conditions the Worker will be subject to in this position

1.

X

The worker is subject to inside environment conditions.

2.

X

The worker is subject to outside environment conditions.

3.

The worker is subject to extreme heat or cold for periods of greater that one hour.

4.

The worker is subject to noise which would cause them to have to shout.

5.

The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, chemicals, etc.